Zion Baptist Church

I rode in the same cab with Paul, my boss, and his wife Brenda to the church. We came a bit early so he could get himself together, I guess, before the service. I ended up going to Adult Sunday School in the interim and got a lesson about Josiah from Chronicles II.

I was the only white person there, and felt a little conspicuous. I was invited to sign in on their guest book, and under the blank for “home church” I wrote Bet Alef Synagogue. Everyone greeted me warmly – lots of hand-shakes and hugs from people, as well as some curious glances. If people engaged in conversation in more than just a “good morning” I did explain why I was there.

Paul was treated like visiting royalty. He was 100% Reverend Edwards the time I was there, not how I’m used to hearing him being addressed. He wore a clerical robe and tallit-like purple sash.

There was lots of good gospel music sung between each element of the service, and much hallelujah-ing and amen-ing throughout the whole thing.

After the initial procession, invocation, welcome hymn, and music ministry, the senior pastor gave a talk on the Reverend Wright, the role of prophetic preaching in the African American church, and tied it back to the Sunday School lesson on Josiah that I heard. Although I think he never said the name “Barack Obama” in the whole thing, it was clearly in support of Obama – rather interesting. My notes read: “Too often pulpits in this country have been silent when it comes to injustices in our country” and “Prophetic preaching is the hallmark of the African American church”.

Then there was a long presentation on the history of the church, done by the Youth and Children’s minister, I think to prepare the way for Paul’s sermon.

Then more singing, the collection plate was passed, more singing, and then we had a scripture reading of March 10:13 – 16, about when Jesus blessed the little children. After more singing, we had an introduction of Paul, and then he did a rather long sermon based on the scripture reading, about how adults need children, and they need adults. Through this sermon he also reflected quite a bit on his own childhood in DC, and his relationship with his father, the pastor of the church until 1959 (when he died young of a massive heart attack).

After this, there was more singing, then a series of prayers for people in need of healing, and finally a closing hymn, a benediction, and the recessional hymn.

The service started at 10:15, and if you ever think our synagogue’s services are long at two hours, we finished up at 1:00 PM, so no one should complain.

After that, I probably made the mistake of hanging out for a bit, while Paul and Brenda met and hugged and talked with more people. Maybe I should have just got a cab to go back to the hotel on my own. Then we had a further tour of the grounds of the church, more hugs and conversations, and FINALLY I got back to my own hotel room maybe around 2:30 PM!

My boss’s father was a preacher at Zion Baptist Church, from 1938 – 1959. My boss is an ordained minister, and he will be preaching at Zion Baptist when we come to DC this weekend. I am looking forward to not only hearing him preach, but the whole experience of attending a black Baptist Church in DC.